SGS MINERALS SERVICES T3 SGS 097

09-2013

FLOTATION
Flotation is an incredibly robust and
versatile process that works equally
well on mixed sulphide, oxide, silicate
and other ores. Using standardized
equipment, cutting-edge mineralogy and
experienced technical staff, SGS Minerals
Services will provide laboratory test
programs which are designed to achieve
your objectives quickly and efficiently.
Strong ties with equipment and reagent
suppliers ensure the most effective,
practical, and innovative (if necessary)
methods for mineral separation are
applied.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
SGS Minerals Services is the most
experienced and trusted testing
organization in the mineral processing
industry. Our core philosophy is to
understand the variability of the
ore parameters that affect flotation
performance and then design, optimize or
forecast based on these parameters.

OUR QUALIFICATIONS

Recognized bankable expertise

in beneficiation, metal extraction,
purification and recovery across our
global network of metallurgy labs.
Extensive bench and pilot scale
facilities.
Over 70years of experience in
developing practical
and cost efficient processing routes.
Quality mineralogical and analytical
services.

PROGRAM DESIGN
We execute our philosophy in a stagewise fashion that permit each phase of
work to build on all that has gone before
it. For example, flowsheet development
is done on carefully selected drill core
composites1 that represent your major
ore types. Following this, locked-cycle
1 RC cuttings or lump samples can be used
if core is not available

tests are done to define the basic flotation

circuit flowsheet. Variability is assessed
using geometallurgical approaches.
Advanced kinetic-based computer
simulations based on a series of small
scale tests are then used to fine-tune the
flowsheet and provide you with circuit
options that trade-off upfront capital
expenditure and/or operating flexibility
with grade-recovery performance.
SGS Minerals Services has all of the
expertise and equipment necessary to
complete the flotation flowsheet with
thickening, filtering or leaching testwork
as needed.

FLOTATION CELL HYDRODYNAMICS

SGS Minerals Services offers a
scientifically proven technology to
measure flotation cell hydrodynamic
variables using high-end optical
equipment and software. By visualizing
and understanding the hidden factors
of flotation cell hydrodynamics, SGS
Minerals Services has the expertise
to provide you with reliable data and
solutions for more efficient flotation.

SULPHIDE FLOTATION
SGS Minerals Services has over 70 years
of experience in the design and evaluation
of sulphide base metal flotation regimes,
with more than a thousand ores including
the minerals
argentite
arsenopyrite
bornite
chalcopyrite
covellite
enargite
galena
molybdenite
marmatite
pentlandite
pyrite
pyrrhotite
sphalerite
tetrahedrite
Polymetallic ores, such as copper-leadzinc-silver-bismuth ores, are some of the
most complex and SGS Minerals Services
has proven practical solutions to separate
these minerals.

OXIDES AND SILICATE FLOTATION

Gravity, magnetic and electrostatic
separation processes are the traditional
treatment methods used for beneficiation
of oxide minerals. Advances in flotation
reagents can make the recovery of
oxides by flotation a more effective and
economic process. Grinding and surface
chemistry are critical to the success of
oxide flotation. Over-grinding of the brittle
minerals is avoided by stage grinding and
careful selection of equipment.
We have experience in diverse regimes
for treatment of a wide range of oxide
minerals such as

barite
cassiterite
copper, lead, and zinc carbonates

SGS MINERALS SERVICES T3 SGS 097

fluorite
ilmenite
iron ore
monazite and other rare earth oxides
phosphates
potash
rutile
scheelite
silicates
spodumene
tantalite
topaz
wolframite
zircon

OTHER MINERALS AND APPROACHES

Flotation is a robust process and new and
innovative treatment processes have been
developed by SGS Minerals Services.
An example is the recovery of secondary
minerals from oil sands. Other minerals
that can be recovered by flotation include:
coal
metallic copper
metallic silver
platinum group elements (PGE)
Our experience in the PGE is particularly
strong with process development, in-plant
optimization and auditing of plants, for
some of the worlds largest producers.

2
SGS Minerals Services provides columns
and contact cells to the oil sands industry
that are used in flotation and scavenging
applications.

MINERALOGY

LABORATORY AND PILOT

PLANT EQUIPMENT
Columns, mechanical cells, flash
flotation, unit cells, and high capacity
contact cells are regularly used in our
evaluations. Other related equipment,
such as stirred mills, ball mills, and
high intensity conditioners, are also
available. Techniques, such as new
reagent development, control potential
sulphidization (CPS), flotation kinetics,
and computer modeling are also used.

In a recent project at SGS Minerals

Services, over $250,000 was saved by
using QEMSCAN TM for prediction of
grade-recovery variability in place of
traditional locked-cycle flotation testing.

a selection of rod mills, ball mills, and

grinding media
Denver and Agitair flotation cells
extensive reagent selection
Eh/pH capability

PILOT PLANT EQUIPMENT

SGS Minerals Services performs froth

flotation testing on oil sands materials,
separating bitumen from sand. We
have also developed methods to extract
heavy minerals from oil sands tailings via
flotation.

Mineralogy plays an important role in

quickly troubleshooting and resolving
operational issues. In particular,
QEMSCAN TM technology offers a
quantum leap in the understanding of
flotation processes. The QEMSCAN TM
instrument rapidly and inexpensively
analyzes hundreds of thousands of
points in a polished section. This large
dataset is the basis for liberation studies,
grade- recovery prediction and diagnosis,
with greatly improved speed, detail and
confidence over manual grain counting
methods.

LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

OIL SANDS

COMPREHENSIVE
SUPPORT SERVICES

a wide selection of primary and

regrind mills
flotation banks suitable for 3kg/h to
over 1000kg/h
column cells from 2 to 12 diameter
with DCS level control
Contact Cell multi-stage plants of
various sizes
reagent pumps monitored and
controlled through a DCS system
standard and high-intensity
conditioners
thickeners, tailing pond, and recycle
water capabilities
pulp density and pH monitoring and
control through a DCS system

QEMSCAN Mineral Particle Map

CHEMICAL LABORATORIES
SGS Minerals Services full service
analytical and environmental laboratories
operate around the clock to provide key
data to guide project decisions. Analytical
instrumentation is linked to a networked
data management system allowing
speedy access by the project team
worldwide.

SGS MINERALS SERVICES T3 SGS 097

CONTROL, PARTY UMPIRE ANALYSIS

EXPERIENCE

Final locked cycle or pilot plant

concentrates can be subjected to highaccuracy settlement analysis to determine
if phases causing smelter penalties or
precious metal credits are present.

SGS Minerals Services has done

bench and pilot-scale testing on literally
thousands of flotation projects. Recent
high profile projects include:

ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING AND PROJECT

WASTE DISPOSAL
SGS Minerals Services has unique
environmental expertise, particularly
in assessing potential environmental
problems. Environmental studies
supporting flotation studies can involve
material characterization, acid base
accounting, process water toxicity,
leachate toxicity testing and effluent
testing.
Project tailings can be disposed of by a
third party contractor, following pertinent
government regulations.

SGS Group Management SA 2013 All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA

SOPHISTICATED DATA
MANAGEMENT AND
ANALYSIS
Distributed control systems and process
control instrumentation are available to
control and operate the pilot plant grinding
and flotation circuits. Rapid feedback is
provided to refine operating conditions.
On-stream particle size analysis, and
chemical analysis, is also available.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email us at minerals@sgs.com
www.sgs.com/mining

Antamina
Pogo
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Bulyanhulu
Raglan
Yackabindie
Greenbushes
Tenke Fungurume
Southern Peru Copper
Troilus
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Tambo Grande
Winnarshoek
Montcalm
Telfer
Las Pelambres
Batu Hijau
Pallca
Lady Loretta